The Best Mashed Potatoes
Fluffy, creamy and buttery, these are absolutely PERFECT mashed potatoes.
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Peel and quarter potatoes, place in a pot of cold salted water.
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Add garlic & bring to a boil, cook uncovered 15 minutes or until fork-tender. Drain well.
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Heat milk on the stove top until warm.
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Add butter to the potatoes and begin mashing. Pour in heated milk a little at a time while using a potato masher to reach desired consistency.
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Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot.
- Drain Well: I usually let them sit about 5 minutes or so to completely drain, or even drain well and put them back in the warm pot for a few minutes to make sure all liquid is evaporated.
- Mash by Hand: Use a hand masher or a potato ricer for the creamiest potatoes. A hand mixer, stand mixer or food processor can work, but it can also break down the starches in the potatoes and cause a gummy texture.
- Add BUTTER! There are places you can skimp on the butter and this is not one of them. I like to use salted butter and lots of it . Butter adds a creamy and well, buttery texture.
- Heat the Cream: Heat your milk/cream before adding. This keeps the potatoes hot and it absorbs better. Add cream/milk a little a time to get the right consistency.
Calories: 209, Carbohydrates: 34g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 17mg, Sodium: 74mg, Potassium: 798mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 238IU, Vitamin C: 11mg, Calcium: 57mg, Iron: 2mg
Course How To, Side Dish
The Best Way To Make Mashed Potatoes In The Instant Pot
September 20, 2018 by Laura
This post may contain affiliate links which wont change your price but will share some commission.
Sometimes a girl thinks she is onto something when she learns to make Mashed Potatoes in the Instant Pot. Then her friend Leesa is like, Girl, you have to try it my way instead. And then you try making Mashed Potatoes Leesas way and you fall down dead.
How is it that the best foods we all love can actually taste even better when we tweak a few ingredients and methods? Can it be that these Mashed Potatoes take so little effort to make? And is it actually possible that making Mashed Potatoes in the way I am about to describe actually adds more nutrients to this delicious dish?
Yes. So these potatoes are better tasting AND better for us, all without any extra work. Hoorah!
We Love Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are the best part of any holiday meal and the perfect side with almost anything! They go especially well with sauces, gravy or things like Salisbury steak, beef tips, or Swiss steak.
- Below Ive shared my favorite tips and tricks for creamy and fluffy mashed potatoes each and every time.
- They are so buttery and creamy, nobody can resist !
- Mashed potatoes are great on their own and of course, served with turkey and gravy, holiday meals or just as good ol comfort food.
Read Also: Instant Pot Burn Indicator
Which Potatoes Are Best In The Instant Pot
For this recipe, you can use any kind of potato, like Yukon Gold, red, or russet potatoes. Cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks, and they’re ready in under 15 minutes Take em out right when the timer goes off so they dont overcook, then use them however you like!
As is, they can be folded into a potato salad . For breakfast, I toss them into a skillet to make a quick hash with onions and peppers, or I brown them in the pan alongside sunny side up eggs.
For dinner, I mash them right in the hot pot after theyre done steaming to make easy mashed potatoes, or toss them in the oven to roast until crispy, as pictured here.
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes: Faq
How long do you cook mashed potatoes in the Instant Pot?
The process takes about 20 minutes, including close to 10 minutes of cook time. Prep other ingredients while the potatoes cook.
Can you use red potatoes, sweet potatoes, or cauliflower?
Yukon gold and russet potatoes are starchier than red potatoes, which makes them fluffier when mashed. Choose these varieties over their waxier red cousins.
Also Check: How Long To Steam Broccoli In Instant Pot
How To Serve Your Mashed Potatoes
Adding additional ingredients to your mashed potatoes isn’t necessary, but it’s a great way to put a spin on this classic dish. Some of Lo’s favorite mix-ins for mashed potatoes include roasted garlic, grated aged cheddar, and crispy bacon bits.
She also likes to garnish her mashed potatoes with garden-grown chives to level them up. “For the ultimate side dish, add them all,” Lo says.
Her favorite dishes to serve alongside Instant Pot mashed potatoes include pork roast, beef pot roast, ribs, and barbecue sirloin steak. And, of course, it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without a fluffy mound of gravy-soaked mashed potatoes right next to the turkey and stuffing.
You can also top your mashed potatoes with gravy, cheese, sour cream, or extra butter to elevate the flavor profile even further.
Quick tip: For vegan mashed potatoes, use a vegan butter substitute and dairy-free milk or coconut milk instead of milk or cream. You can also reserve and use the potato cooking water to mash them with. Serve them with slabs of crispy marinated tofu or tempeh or a tasty bowl of Instant Pot cooked beans.
How To Cook Sweet Potatoes In The Instant Pot
Get velvety smooth sweet potatoes every time.
If you’re looking to introduce healthy eating habits into your life this year, sweet potatoes are your friend. These starchy root vegetables are so nutrient-packed it’s no wonder they’ve become staples in popular diets like Whole30 and Paleo. But there’s just one problem. Cooking them in the oven is time-consuming. That’s where the Instant Pot comes into play. This innovative kitchen gadget allows you to cook moist and fluffy sweet potatoes in less time than traditional methods. Read on for a step-by-step guide on how to cook sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot.
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How Many Potatoes Can I Pressure Cook At One Time
This recipe as written is for about 2 pounds of potatoes, which is about six side-dish servings.
However, around 5 pounds of potatoes can generally fit in a 6-quart pressure cooker.
Whether you use 2 pounds or 5 pounds, the cook time remains the same. Just make sure the potatoes are diced uniformly fit and are below the max fill line in your pressure cooker.
If youre cooking the maximum amount of potatoes, youll want to be careful that no foaming or spitting comes out of the release valve. If this happens, close the switch for a few seconds and open it again in an intermittent pressure release.
If youre using an 8-quart pressure cooker, you can fit 7 to 8 pounds of potatoes. Also, with this larger size, be sure to use 2 cups of water below the steamer basket.
Cook In The Instant Pot
The sliced potatoes, garlic, and chicken broth go in first, then youll set the pot to high pressure cook for 13-14 minutes .
Once the Instant Pot signals it is finished, youll quick release and then drain some of the chicken broth, if youd like.
You can also make these Instant Pot garlic mashed potatoes no drain by, well, simply not draining off any of the chicken broth, which is exactly what I did. These mashed potatoes turned out perfect for my preference, so if youre unsure of what kind of texture youre going for, drain some liquid and reserve it you can always add some back in!
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Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
Is there anything more comforting or satisfying than a big batch of mashed potatoes? Theyre the ultimate side dish, and lets be honest, would it really be Thanksgiving without them? Make room on the stovetop this holiday by turning to your Instant Pot. Nothing beats how quick and easy these mashed potatoes are and not to mention delicious!
Youre only 30 minutes out from the creamiest mashed potatoes you could ever imagine. Follow this guide for the perfect results every time.
Choose the right spud
For classic mashed potatoes, our go-to is the russet. They’re low in moisture and super starchy so, once mashed, they absorb all of that dairy like a charm. You could use Yukon Gold here, which is only a bit waxy, just dont use a very waxy potato like Red Bliss. Youll end up with a gummy mash. If you like the skins on in your mashed potatoes, we recommend only peeling half of the potatoes. Yukon Gold works best!
Salt is your friend
Just like making pasta, this starch needs salt as it cooks, not just at the end. So, add a healthy pinch to your cooking water. Its an easy hackthe water not only cooks the potatoes, but flavors them from the inside out.
Ensure even cooking
Wed highly recommend peeling your potatoes. Russet skin is delicious when baked or fried, but tends to be unpleasant when mashed. As for chopping, to ensure fast, even cooking, quarter your potatoes before adding to the pot.
Do the mash
Heat your dairy
Finish strong
sour cream
The Ultimate Comfort Food
I am excited to share these simple to make, instant pot mashed potatoes with you! I love them with just about everything from meatloaf to island style pork to or beef tips!
If youre not familiar with the Instant Pot, its an easy to use an electric pressure cooker. Learn more about the Instant Pot here .
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Why Make Mashed Potatoes In Your Instant Pot
Because they take just ten minutes to cook, and once you mash them they are perfect left on warm for an hour or two if you have company and want to have them ready ahead. If you dont know what an Instant Pot is, its a multi-cooker that does the job of a slow cooker, electric pressure cooker, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, sauté/browning pan, and warming pot all in one. If youre debating if you need one in your life, my answer is YES!
How To Make Mashed Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes are super simple to make with very few ingredients. You can make them in the Crock Pot or Instant Pot, but I really do think the best mashed potatoes are a simple classic.
To Make Mashed Potatoes Ahead of Time
Follow the recipe below and allow the mashed potatoes to cool completely. Once cooled, store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
To Heat the Potatoes for Serving
Spread them into a greased casserole pan, dot with butter if desired and cover. Bake at 325°F until the butter melts and the potatoes are heated through, about 35-40 minutes. If youd like a browned crust, bake uncovered.
Also Check: How To Cook Pre Cooked Ribs
How To Cook Potatoes In The Instant Pot
A pressure cooker makes fast work of steaming a bunch of cubed potatoes, and I use them for all sorts of things all week long. My Instant Pot also beeps ten times in a row when its done, and I can hear it from just about anywhere in my little apartment so I know when my food is ready.
Using the pressure cooker doesnt always save you time with these types of kitchen prep tasks, but I think it does make them more convenient. I actually keep my Instant Pot on the counter at all times because I use it nearly every day! Coco MoranteWhich Potatoes are Best in the Instant Pot? .
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How Long Do I Cook Baked Potatoes In The Instant Pot
I tested this recipe starting at 12 minutes. The potatoes were cooked but too firm for my liking. When cooked for 14 minutes, they were soft and fluffy inside. I used medium size potatoes. If using small ones, 12 minutes should be enough. If using large potatoes, add 2 more minutes of cooking time.
My Instant Pot took about 8 minutes to come to pressure.
To learn how to cook sweet potatoes, check out my Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes recipe with a bonus shortcut!
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Melt Butter & Add Milk
*Pro Tip: If its for special occasions, we strongly recommend using ¾ lb 1 lb unsalted butter. It simply tastes super amazing!
First, switch Instant Pot to Slow Cook Less Mode.
Add half of the room temperature unsalted butter and melt it into the potatoes by stirring gently with a silicone spatula. Add in the remaining unsalted butter and repeat this step.
Then, change the Instant Pot to Keep Warm Mode.
Pour hot milk on the mashed potatoes and gently stir it in. Then, allow the potatoes to absorb the milk.
Finally, season mashed potatoes with kosher salt and taste to adjust until desired saltiness.
*Reference: We used approx 4 pinches of coarse kosher salt.
Now, serve these Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes immediately as a main side dish.
*Pro Tip: It can stay in the Keep Warm Mode for roughly an hour. If the butter starts to separate from the mashed potatoes after an hour, gently stir it back together with a silicone spatula.
We simply couldnt stop eating these Mashed Potatoes! Be prepared to be obsessed.
Instant Pot Potatoes With Green Beans And Carrots
If you would like to add more vegetables to this, you certainly can! I usually add carrots and green beans. But as the green beans cook quicker than the potatoes, I suggest cooking in the Instant Pot for 5 minutes instead of 7 on high pressure. If you dont mind the potatoes just a bit firmer, leave them as they are. If you want them to be soft, just cut them in halves.
Keep in mind that the green beans will be quite tender, but still delicious!
This is a great way to add more vegetables to your meals and goes so well with everything.
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How To Make Mashed Potatoes In The Instant Pot
It literally takes longer to peel the potatoes and cut into chunks than to cook make Instant Pot mashed potatoes. Amazing right? So if you are at all like me, and forget to get things started before you head out for the day, utilize the pressure cooker and enjoy!
Once cooked you can simply mash them right in the IP, no strainers etc required. If theyre done early, add the lid and theyll keep warm for quite a while! If you happen to have leftovers, they can be made into potato pancakes or enjoyed atop a shepherds pie!
Recommended Potatoes For Mashed Potatoes
Have you ever had really gluey mashed potatoes before instead of super smooth and creamy? The wrong potatoes , can cause poor results. You need a potato with a higher starch level.
The best kind of potatoes for light, fluffy, and flavorful mashed potatoes are russet potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes. How you cook your potatoes matter too. Instant Pot is my new favorite way, but slow cooker mashed potatoes are pretty amazing as well.
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Instructions For The Stovetop
Add potatoes and garlic to a large pot of waterBring to simmer and cook for 25 to 40 minutes Drain potatoes, reserving garlic and some potato waterAdd potatoes + garlic to a large bowlMash and add mashing ingredients, thinning out with reserved potato water
And now, for some goodies I found perusing Kathleens blog, because I think she has some really great stuff in her collection like a whole section dedicated to high altitude baking, this no-knead cranberry walnut bread that I was thisclose to making instead of these potatoes, and her family-famous cinnamon rolls .
Whatever you get from this page whether its the pressure cooker garlic mashed potatoes or something from Kathleen I hope you enjoy it, devour it, share it with your friends/family, and make some memories in your kitchen like we do, if thats your thing!
How Many Mashed Potatoes Should I Make
An average sized serving of mashed potatoes is 1 cup, approximately one half a pound of potatoes. Five pounds should serve 10 people. Of course, if you have a mashed potato monster in your family, you may want to make more. My uncle always makes a huge mound of potatoes on his plate, shaping a nice hole in the center for several ladles of gravy. For him, maybe 2 cups of potatoes.or more.
Read Also: How To Cook Frozen Hamburger Meat In The Instant Pot
How Do You Mash Potatoes
The easiest way to mash potatoes is with a potato masher. If you want super smooth potatoes, you can also try using a potato ricer. Another alternative is you can beat your potatoes with a hand mixer. Just be sure not to put your potatoes in the food processor if you try it that way, youll end up with gluey potatoes that arent pleasant to eat.
